One of our favorite events at Disney California Adventure starts today! The Food and Wine Festival at DCA runs now through April 21st, and we’re here to help walk you through the many options available. There are lots of new choices, including vegetarian and a couple of plant-based options. We’ve posted about some of the experiences you won’t want to miss, now here’s a deeper dive into the best part of the festival . . . the food.
The key to the festival is your Tasting Passport, which you’ll want to have with you as you travel through the park. It contains every menu item throughout the festival marketplaces, as well as information on exclusive merchandise and other fun things. You’ll also have the option to purchase the Sip and Savor Pass, which allows you to pre-pay for eight festival food items and save a bit of money. You’ll get a lanyard with 8 pull-off tabs that you can trade for items you want to try. You can purchase the Sip and Savor Pass at Elias & Co., Festival Gifts, Kingswell Camera Shop, Rushin’ River Outfitters, Seaside Souvenirs, the Sip and Savor Cart, the Studio Store in Hollywood Land, and every marketplace booth. The Sip and Savor Pass costs $56, or $51 for annual passholders (and you get a bonus AP magnet too!).
PRO TIP: One thing to keep in mind is that if you see a long line at one booth, don’t hesitate to order any item you want from any booth. So, look for the booth with the shortest line to order your food!
We got a first look at the Festival yesterday during an unannounced soft opening. We will update this guide later today with additional photos, video and info, so be sure to check back.
Now on to the food and drinks . . .
Nuts About Cheese Marketplace
- Fiscalini White Cheddar Lager Soup served in a Mini Boudin Sourdough Bowl (Vegetarian)
- Impossible Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese (Vegetarian)
- Oikos Greek Yogurt Banoffee Tart
- Honey Bourbon Lemonade (Alcoholic)
Uncork California Marketplace
- California Artisan Cheese with Central Coast Creamery Holey Cow Swiss and Vintage Cheese Co. Cabernet Cheddar (Vegetarian)
- White Wine Flight
– Malibu Rocky Oaks, Sauvignon Blanc, California
– Rombauer, Chardonnay, Carneros
– Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia, Rose, Monterey County - Red Wine Flight
– Erath, Pinot Noir, Oregon
– The Prisoner, Red Blend, Napa Valley
– Quilt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - Road Trip Mimosa Trio
– Pacific Mimosa
– Mojave Mimosa
– Sierra Mimosa - Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine, California
Golden Dreams Marketplace
- Brunch Fried Chicken & Waffle Sandwich with Mimosa-inspired Slaw and OJ Bubbles
This is probably one of the most talked-about items at the Festival this year. It’s a clever take on a favorite brunch standard with the integration of molecular gastronomy. The waffle is crispy and mild, but the real flavor comes through the chicken and the slaw. The chicken is surprisingly crunchy and coated with a savory seasoning, and the slaw brings sweetness to the dish. Our only disappointment with the dish was that the OJ Bubbles were more of a gimmick than an integrated aspect of the flavor profile, and if a bubble pops your waffle is guaranteed to get soggy. It would have been even better if the bubbles were filled with maple syrup, but still worth a try.
- Seared Verlasso Salmon with Lemon Pea Puree, Black Rice and Meyer Lemon Relish (Gluten-Friendly)
- Strawberry-Rose Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)
- Fig & Lavender Cold Brew (Non-Alcoholic)
California Craft Brews Marketplace
- Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls
- Triple B Cocktail with Beer, Bourbon, and Berries (Alcoholic)
- Beer Flight – Fun with Flavor
– Mother Earth Orange Vanilla Cali Creamin’ Ale
– Black Market Cucumber Sour
– Golden Road Strawberry and Pomegranate Balboa Blonde Ale
– Aftershock Guavaaah! Hazy Pale Ale - Beer Flight – Bigger & Bolder
– Bootlegger’s Rocco Red Ale
– Stereo Perfect Day IPA
– Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing Hazy IPA
– Karl Strauss Wreck Alley Imperial Stout - Backstreet La Calleja Mexican-style Lager
- Boomtown Ingenue Belgian White
- Divine Science Event Horizon Blonde (Gluten-Friendly)
- JuneShine Acai Berry Hard Kombucha (Gluten-Friendly)
- Meiomi, Rose, California
- MacMurray Ranch, Pinot Noir, Central Coast
- Joel Gott, Cabernet Sauvignon, California
This is a great booth for anyone interested in trying different beer and wines, but the Pepperoni Pizza Egg Rolls are always a safe choice when you just can’t decide what else to get.
One in a Melon Marketplace
- Compressed Watermelon and Tomato with Whipped Ricotta and Lemon Olive Oil (Vegetarian, Gluten-Friendly)
One in a Melon is one of the new booths this year, and in case you didn’t guess, the theme is all melon-featured foods. The first dish to catch our eye was the Compressed Watermelon. The watermelon has been given a red wine vinaigrette dressing and put through a vacuum process that intensifies the watermelon flavor and adds a savory kick to the fruit. Whipped ricotta and lemon olive oil round out the dish, making this the perfect dish for a warm spring day.
- Poke-style Watermelon with Cucumber (Plant-Based, Gluten-Friendly)
Our immediate impression to the Poke-Style Watermelon was a bit of disgust, but that mostly stems from our unfamiliarity with it. After a few bites, the unique flavor of the watermelon and the acidity of the citrus-soy-poke dressing melded together for a crisp and almost addictive taste. If you’re on a plant-based diet, this is one of your few options for the Festival this year. It may sound offputting but give it a shot and you might just find yourself trying to make this one at home.
- Pabana Cream Puff with Mango, Passion Fruit, and Banana Mousse
- Berry Mule (Alcoholic)
This drink is a little pricey ($14) for what you get. It’s made with vodka, strawberry, Simply® Watermelon juice, house-made rhubarb juice, and ginger beer. The ginger beer is pretty overpowering, which is surprising because all the components are made of strong individual flavors. This wasn’t a winner.
- House-made Watermelon Agua Fresca (Non-Alcoholic)
Yes, this non-alcoholic drink looks virtually identical to the Berry Mule. We saw a lot of people with this drink, and for good reason. This Agua Fresca is house-made with fresh watermelon, peaches, agave nectar, and fresh lime juice. It is like drinking summer in a glass, perfect for the hot days we’ve got up ahead!
Peppers Cali-Ente Marketplace
- Creamy Poblano Peper Pasta (Vegetarian)
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having your mouth on fire while craving seconds. This straight-forward pasta dish delivers the heat without any gimmicks or ploys. The poblano peppers have a cumulative heat effect, and the roasted red pepper drizzle gives a more immediate spice. Be warned, if you can’t handle the heat then this one is not for you.
- Grilled Shrimp Tacos on Jicama Tortillas (Gluten-Friendly)
- Cantarito-style Paloma (Alcoholic)
- Annabella, Chardonnay Special Selection, Napa Valley
LA Style Marketplace
- Asian-style Beef Barbacoa Street Tacos
This was a little-known dish from last year. This booth was hidden back in Hollywood Land and missed by many Festival-attendees. This year it has been moved to the main parade route. The barbacoa is so tender and juicy that it literally falls apart. You’re going to want to grab forks and plenty of napkins.
- Smoked Bacon Barbecue Beef Loco Moco on Rice (Gluten-Friendly)
WOW! We hope that this dish gets picked up somewhere around the Disneyland Resort (Tangaroa Terrace or Bengal Barbeque, we’re looking at you!). This take on Loco Moco features a hefty slice of beef that’s doused in a sweet and tangy smoked bacon barbecue sauce over rice. The only change we would make would be to replace the crumbled hard-boiled eggs with a poached egg to help retain the classic dish’s gooey stick-to-your-ribs feeling. Out of everything we tried, this was Dusty’s favorite.
- Monkey Bread with Caramel Whiskey Glaze and Candied Pecans
- Out of the desserts we tried (which admittedly was few so far), this was our favorite. It’s freshly baked buttery bread with notes of cinnamon and topped with a caramel whiskey glaze (that contains trace amounts of alcohol!) and candied pecans. When you get a fresh batch, the bread is doughy and warm without being overly dry. Pro tip: sligtly pull the buns apart and allow the dish to sit for about 2 minutes so the caramel can soak in. Trust us, you’ll love it.
- Amaretto Stout-Cream Cold Brew (Alcoholic)
- Blue Angeleno Cocktail (Alcoholic)
This drink is a tasty Tiki-inspired concoction. It’s made with white rum, blue curacao, orgeat, sweetened coconut cream, pineapple juice, and Simply Orange. It’s sweet without being overpowering. This is easily a drink that has a lot of repeatability to it.
Avocado Time Marketplace
- Petite Impossible Burger with Guac and Pepper Jack (Vegetarian)
This is another returning favorite offering from last year. It made waves for being an incredible usage of the Impossible meatless-meat. We’re thrilled to enjoy it for another festival. Our videographer, Trevor, didn’t realize he wasn’t eating meat and could hardly believe that this was a plant-based burger when we told him.
- Tortilla-crusted Fried Guacamole with Carne Asada
This is an unassuming dish that turned out to be a big hit with our crew! Although the presentation is a little plain, the bold flavors definitely make up for it. These deep-fried slices of avocado are an interesting take on simplified guacamole and are paired with saucy cuts of carne asada. We wonder if we can replicate the deep-fried avocado at home, because they’d be a hit at any party.
- Mezcal Cocktail (Alcoholic)
- Chapman Crafted Slow Riser with Coconut, Red Ale on Nitro
Off the Cob Marketplace
- Mini Chicken Chimis with Chimichurri Corn Pico de Gallo and Chipotle Crema (don’t worry, we’ll be trying this one today)
- Shrimp and Braised Corn with Chorizo (Gluten-Friendly)
- Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate Macaron
- Fields & Orchards with Elderflower and Artichoke Liqueurs (Alcoholic)
- Farmstand Punch (Non-Alcoholic)
We’re suckers for macarons, and it seems like every festival has a new option. We expect the Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate one to be a hit. Looking forward to trying it in the near future.
I <3 Artichokes Marketplace
- Fried Artichokes with Lemon Aioli (Vegetarian)
- Artichoke Toast with Artichoke Cream Cheese and Olive & Artichoke Tapenade (Vegetarian)
- Lolea, Red Sangria, Spain
- Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Non-Alcoholic Lager (Alcohol regulations apply)
Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo Marketplace
- Ranch Fried Chicken Wings with Buffalo Hot Sauce Drizzle
- French Onion Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider
This year, the famed Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo Marketplace has switched up their iconic slider offering they’ve had for the last few years. Now, there’s something just as good, if not better! The French Onion Tenderloin is a hearty slab of beef tenderloin topped with Gruyere cheese sauce and caramelized onions on a crusty onion roll. This one is messy, but it’s finger-licking good.
- Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch
- Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc Witbier (Limited-Time Offering)
- Craft Micheladas, Beers, and Flights
– Pizza Port Honey Blonde Golden Ale
– Golden Road Pineapple Cart Wheat Ale
– Lost Coast Watermelon Wheat
– King Harbor Cerveza Hermosa Mexican Amber Lager
Berry Patch Marketplace
- Raspberry-Lychee-Rose Custard with Mixed Berry Compote
- Oikos Greek Yogurt California Berries Summer Pudding (Contains trace amounts of alcohol)
- Blue Marble Berry Hard Seltzer (Alcoholic)
- Blue Marble Tropical Hard Seltzer (Alcoholic)
- Ruby Citrus Sparkler (Non-Alcoholic)
Although this booth only has 2 food options, both of them being desserts, everything sounds good to us.
Garlic Kissed Marketplace
- Black Garlic Soy-braised Pork Belly Banh Mi
- Carbonara Garlic Mac & Cheese with Nueske’s Bacon
Pasta, garlic, and white cheddar cheese. Need I say more? This delectable selection is one of the best mac and cheeses we’ve had at any of DCA’s festivals in recent memory. The creaminess of the sauce paired with the slight spice from the red pepper panko crumbs is a match made in mac and cheese heaven.
- Aperol Cocktail (Alcoholic)
- Wither Hills, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Paradise Garden Grill
- Impossible Meatball Submarine (Plant-Based)
- Beer-battered Fish Tacos, with Karl Strauss Follow the Sun Pilsner-infused Batter
- Brisket Sliders
- Brisket Fries
- Black Forest Parfait
- Watermelon Vodka Lemonade
- Matanzas Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
- Deschutes Pacific Wonderland Lager
- Sudwerk Marzen Amber Lager
- Berry Spectacular Cookie Shake (Non-Alcoholic)
Although most of Paradise Garden Grill’s selections are repeats from previous years, they’re still heavy hitters. We’re really looking forward to giving the Brisket Sliders and Brisket Fries a try. Oh God, help our arteries!
Paradise Beer Garden
- Smog City Little Bo Pils Unfiltered Pilsner
- Ayinger Brauweisse Hefeweizen
- Chihuahua Guava Lime Suprema Low-Cal Lager
- 2 Towns Outcider Hard Cider
- Karl Strauss Practice What You Peach Sour
- Bottle Logic Marcelin Muffin Blueberry Imperial Blonde
- Enegren Valkyrie Alt Bier
- Figueroa Mountain Point Conception IPA
- Lost Winds Whirlpool Galaxy Double IPA
- Allagash Black Stout
- Twisted Horn Raven’s Claw Apple & Boysenberry Mead
- Founders Backwoods Bourbon Barrel-aged Scotch Ale
Outdoor Vending Carts
- Savory Empanada with Chipotle Crema Sauce
- Sweet Empanada with Caramel Sauce
Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
- Chocolate-Hazelnut Cheesecake
Hollywood Lounge
- Leading Role Lemonade – Gin with Lavender Lemonade (Alcoholic)
- Opening Night Cocktail – Banana Whiskey with Cream Soda (Alcoholic)
- Movie Star Mule – Whiskey with Black Cherry and Ginger Ale (Alcoholic)
- On-Location Libation – Stone Peak Conditions IPA with POG Juice (Alcoholic)
- Backlot Michelada – Tomato-based Michelada with Modelo (Alcoholic)
- Modelo Especial Lager
- Hangar 24 Passion Punch Gose
- Stone Peak Conditions Hazy Double IPA
- Honest Abe Limoncello Hard Cider
- Bottle Logic Emerald City Raspberry Pina Colada Hard Seltzer
- Supporting Role Lemonade – Lavender Lemonade (Non-Alcoholic)
We’re glad to see that there is a non-alcoholic version of the lavender lemonade! It’s handy to have a delicious temperance drink that’s refreshing and adult without any alcohol. The Sweet Empanada from the Outside Vending Carts sounds wonderful as well!
Hollywood Churro Cart
- Churro topped with Peanut Butter Cream, Chocolate Icing and Chopped Peanuts
This looks and sounds amazing, but that’s going to be a mess to eat. Someone, please bring us a bib, because this is going to get messy . . . but so worth it.
Schmoozies!
- Almond Mocha Shake
- Almond Mocha Affogato
Sonoma Terrace
- California Cheesesteak
- Italian Meatball Sandwich
- Bavarian Pretzel with Cheese Sauce
- Triple Chocolate Brownie
- Sandy Beach – Green Apple Vodka with flavors of Seat Salt Caramel (Alcoholic)
- Catalina Island – Vodka and Passion Fruit with flavors of Rasberry Lemonade and Lime (Alcoholic)
- Sparkling Greyhound – Vodka with flavors of Grapefruit, Chamomile, and Cardamom (Alcoholic)
- Pineapple Passion – White Rum with flavors of Pineapple and Passion Fruit (Alcoholic)
- Firestone Walker Rosalie Beer Rose
- Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia, Brut Rose, Monterey County
- Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine, California
- Selection of Craft Beers and Ciders
Pacific Wharf Coffee Cart
- Tropicalifornia Tea Cocktail with Berry Vodka, Green Tea, Pineapple and Orange Juices (Alcoholic)
- Fruitful Green tea with Berry, Pineapple, and Orange Juices (Non-Alcoholic)
Pacific Wharf Distribution Company
- Karl Strauss Crazy Eyes Doppelbock
There are so many delicious offerings within Disney California Adventure. We can imagine having to make multiple trips just to try all the things that might end up on our list! DCA aren’t the only ones getting in on the fun, however. Let’s jump over to Downtown Disney and see what they’re offering during the festival!
Downtown Disney District Offerings
Don’t have a park ticket? Feeling left out? New this year to the Food & Wine Festival is several restaurants at the Downtown Disney District, who are joining in on the fun with special offerings available only during the festival.
Ballast Point Brewing Co.
- Impossible Lettuce Cups with Impossible Protein, Peppers, Hoisin, Sriracha, Garlic, Lime, Fresno Chilies and Hydroponic Lettuce
- The Ballast Point Burger: 8 oz Kobe & Chuck Blend Patty, Sharp Cheddar, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, House-made Pickles, and Ballast Point Remoulade on a Brioche Bun served with Fries
- Cioppino: PEI Mussels, Fish of the Day, Argentinean Shrimp, Spanish Chorizo, Stewed Tomatoes, Chili Flakes, Oregano, Creme Fraiche, Chili Thread, House-Made Pasta, and Grilled Baguette
- All Three Paired with Designated Beer Flight
Catal Restaurant
- Smoked Salmon Crostini: Whipped Ricotta, Smoked Salmon, and Basil Pesto
- Burrata: Burrata, Prosciutto, and Balsamic Gastrique
- Hand-shucked Oysters with Champagne and Black Pepper Mignonette
Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen
- Creole Cobbler with Beefeater Gin, Santhenay Creme de Peche, Fresh Lemon Juice and Orange Bitter
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
- Surf & Turf Slider Duo: Salmon Slider featuring house-made Salmon Patty, Sriracha Aioli, Red Onion, Butter Lettuce, and Heirloom Tomato, and Filet Mignon Slider featuring Beef Tenderloin, Bearnaise Sauce, Arugula and Oven-Roasted Tomato
Salt & Straw
- Warm-spiced Apple Pie Ice Cream with Beecher’s Flagship Cheddary Cheesecake
We’re happy to see that Downtown Disney is participating in the Food & Wine Festival. The Salt & Straw flavors sound amazing, and the Ballast Point Burger is calling our names. We’ve got to make a stop there before they’re gone!
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Let Us Hear From You
Entertainment, Merchandise and more . . . we’ll be back later today with more Food and Wine Festival goodness. Please check back!
With so many food and beverage choices this year, how are you going to decide what to put on your wish list? Did you have any favorite items from last year? What looks good to you this year? Let us know in the comments.
Update: This article was originally published on February 21, 2020, and updated to include new information and pictures of the Food & Wine Festival 2020